3. U.S. embassies are taking precautions to protect their workers, and they were helped Friday by the fact that the day is part of the Muslim weekend and most employees were not at work. Marines and other military have been deployed to some areas, including Yemen, to help bolster security. Officials in most of the affected countries are arresting protesters as well.

4. The violence began on Sept. 11 in Benghazi, Libya, when four Americans – including a U.S. ambassador – were killed. On Friday, at least three people were killed in Tunis, and at least one person died in Sudan.

5. The protests began in response to an amateur video posted on YouTube called “Innocence of Muslims.” The film was made by an American whose identity remains shrouded in mystery. He is listed some places as Sam Bacile but has been identified also as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. The poorly made 14-minute film depicts the Prophet Muhammad as a child molester, womanizer, killer and more.- GHNS